Fouling Out Gets Endorsement of the Educational Resource Acquisition Consortium

Throughout the time that I worked on Fouling Out, I envisioned the novel being used as a springboard for discussion in classrooms and as a key resource for reluctant readers. "Every author thinks his book would be perfect for schools," a colleague of mine said, not meaning to offend. The comment nonetheless caught me off guard. Maybe I was too close to the work to have any objectivity.

I received word last week that ERAC (the Educational Resource Acquisition Consortium), comprised of British Columbia teachers who review novels to determine if they are suitable for use in classrooms, was recommending my book for grades six and seven. Today I was able to read the review online at the ERAC website. As I have consulted this site in the past before selecting novels for class study, I knew that some of the recommended books do not always receive glowing reviews. Thus, I paused and played with my dogs for a few minutes before reading ERAC's analysis of Fouling Out.

I am thrilled with the review! At last, a teacher review committee has confirmed what I'd hoped all along. You can read the entire review by clicking the ERAC Review link in the Book Review section at right. What follows is a portion of the review:

Recommended for Grade(s): 6, 7

Estimated readability: At Grade Plot / Reasons for Recommendation: Craig is an intelligent, but isolated grade seven student whose long time friend, Tom, is the bad boy of the classroom. Tom comes from a dysfunctional family. He is fun to be with but can also be annoying, violent and cruel. Craig is at a stage in his life where he is finding the friendship more of a hindrance than a help but he can't seem to break way. When a crisis occurs and Tom runs away from home, Craig is forced to really look at his relationship with Tom and decide what friendship really means. The main character in this book is funny and engaging, yet gives the reader insights into the isolation and confusion that often plagues adolescence. The book is especially good at portraying the dynamics involved in cliques and groupings in classrooms. The plot is simple, but keeps the reader's interest. The short chapters and humourous writing make it an easy read that could work for reluctant readers. While the main characters are young men, the character driven nature of the book means that it may appeal to girls as well.

Finding an Audience

I have been very fortunate to get so much positive feedback from readers of Fouling Out. As it is summer and I am not working with children at the moment, the current batch of praise is coming from adults, particularly people ranging in age from their thirties to their eighties. One person from Colorado emailed me to say, "I guess I've finally found the right reading level."

When I wrote Fouling Out, I intended for it to be a quick read. The short chapters provided ample opportunities for reading breaks to stop and think about the characters and plot or to wolf down a bag of barbecue potato chips. (Hopefully readers remember to wash their hands before returning to the book. Orange-colored smudges in the margins create an unexpected mystery for the next reader. People who solve the mystery find it a little bit gross.) The thrill for me is that so many people keep on reading. When someone says, "I couldn't put it down", that is high praise.

Adults, keep reading the book and recommending it to others. I am so grateful! As well, I would love to hear more reactions from readers between the ages of 10 and 14. Are the characters realistic? Can you make connections with them or with events in the book?

I believe Fouling Out makes a wonderful summertime read. Read a chapter while in the car en route to the pool. Read another while waiting for a friend to come over. Talk about it. (I think talking about books adds to the pleasure of reading. I am referring to casual conversations, not stilted talks based on teacher questions.)

As teachers get ready for a new school year, I also hope they will consider using
Fouling Out as a novel study or a read aloud in grade six, seven or eight. I would love to share my email for students and teachers to send questions and comments. Of course, any reader is welcome to post a comment here on the blog.

Read on!